Graduated release valve



.lmg zs, 1932.

. U. A. WHITAKER RADUATED RELEASE VALVE Filed 001:. 1'7. 192?) INVENTOR UNGAS AwHrrAK ER' M W ATTO Patented Jan. 2 1932 ITEDLSF A PATENT m 5 u cAs ,A. wHIrAKnmor-fcelv roivg'oiiio, ASSIGNQR TO WEs'rnvGnousE AIR BRAKE coMrANY; or WILMEBDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01* PENN- S WMIA a i i Thisdinvention to 1111 pressure can brakes in synchro-nism With the i f GB-ADUAIEli RE ASE VALVE *hp i cat idmfiiea October 17, 1929. Se-riaLNo. 400,204.,1 1

brakes,and more particularlyto a fluid pres withxmeans fonefiecting a graduated: release of the; brakes, and with :this equipment, it hastbeen foundithat after a fullservice-applioation of. the brakes, the: brake cylinder presit sure may he graduated: off until the brake pipe pressure has been increased to Within approximately lten pounds of. the normal standard pressure carriedz'in the brake pipe, at whichipoint' the brakes will completely andifully releasen r 1 p i On thelocomotive, however, the brakes are released independently, and may be completely released before, or continue: to "release after thetrainibrakes are fully. released.

i-mllhe principal object of myinvention is to provide a=*loeom0tive brake equipment have ing 'meanst for graduating the release of the release ofthe train brakes i a lnwthe accompany ng draw1ng,:the single figurelisaidiagrammatic view, With the printiona.

cip'al partsinisectiomof a locomotive brake equipment embodying my invention. i

, "The; locomotive brake equipment may be oflthe welll known'Ell locomotive brake type" comprising a distributing.valve device 1, an

automatic brake ivalve device 2, an independent? brake vvalve device Baa feed" valve 7 device 4:, a reducing valve device 5, a brake cylinder 6,:representing the:severalfibrake" cylinders on thelocomotive, :and a main reservoir fizf' lnaddition to the above usual equipment, I a release controlling valve device 8J is1provided, in accordance with my-inven- The distributing valve device may be of the usual construetion comprising an equal izing pdrtion andanapplication and release" port-ion)Thefequaliaingportion comprises'a f piston 9"conta'inedcin piston chamber 10,

, whichisconnected to the brake pipe 11 and a mainslidetvalvefll2i anda graduating slide valve 13, contained in valve chamber 14,

which connectedtoa pressure chamber 15,

chamber 20, which is connected to graduated f l at the. opposite side .con iectedto the brake .thejvalves 12. and piston9. 1

The application and release portion comprises a piston 16, contained in application cylinder 17, which is connected to a, passage 18, leading to the seat of slide valve 12, al' release slide valve 19, contained in. alve Pip leading to the brake cylinder 6, and an appli cation; supply valve 22, contained in, valve chamber 23, which is connectedi to a main 13* being operated-lby reservoir supply pipe 24, said valves being operated by piston 16 ,The automatic brake} valve usuale ualizin dischar e valve devicecom prising an equalizing piston 28, having-the chamber 29 at one side connected to; an equalizing reservoir 30, and the chamber 31 pipe it 11. Piston 28 is adapted, to operate, a. discharge, valve 32 l for; venting fluid? ,unden pressure from the brake: pipe toithe atmosphere;

M be independent brake valvedeVice-S'com prisesia: casing having a valve, chamber 33,,

V device 2 C0111? prisesaicasing having a valve chamber25, connectedto the maln reservoir supply pipev containing a rotaryslide valve 34, adapted to beoperated by a handle 35.

" An application cylinder pipe 36 leads passage 18 in the distributing valve device, a

and has branches, leading to the seatsof the rotaryvalves126 and 34:. pipe 37- leads to 1 the seat ofs'lide-valve 12 and is connectedto cordingtoniyinventioni it 1 the ,release controlling valve ,device} 8, ac-f The feed valve deviice 4compjrises a= regu;-; lating; portion and a" supply portion. The regulating" portion comprises av diaphragm 38'subject on one side to-brake pipe pressure,

when the automatic brake valve 2- is in run ning position, andforthepui'poseof the presl ent insertion; the opposite side 01: the diaphragmissubject to fluid pressure as sup plied from a regulating portion associated with the release controlling valve device 18,

instead of to the pressure of the usual regulating spring.

The diaphragm 38 is adapted to operate a valve 40 for controlling the operation of the supply portion. The supply portion comprises a piston 41, contained in piston chamber 42, the pressure in which is controlled by the valve 40, and a slide valve 43, contained in valve chamber 44 and adapted to be operated by piston 41.

The reducing valve device 5 comprises a diaphragm 45, a regulating spring 46, a regulating valve 47, a supply piston 48, and a supply valve 49, adapted to be operated by piston 48.

The release controlling valve device 8 comprises casing sections, between which are mounted flexible diaphragms 50, 51, and 52. The diaphragms are rigidly connected together by a stem 53 and chamber 54 at the outer face of diaphragm 50 is connected to a passage 55, which in turn is connected through a pipe 56 with the brake pipe 11. Interposed V in pipe 56 is a volume reservoir 57 and a choke plug 58 having a restricted flow port 60. The valve chamber 59, intermediate the diaphragms 50 and 51, contains a slide valve 61adapted to be operated by'the movement U of the stem 53. The chamber 62 intermediate the diaphragms 51 and 52 is open to the atmosphere. through passage 63, and chamber 64 at the outer face of diaphragm 52 is connected, through a'passage 65 with a chamber .66 at one side of a diaphragm 67 of a feed valve regulating portion. The diaphragm 67 is subject on one side to the pressure of an adjustable regulating-spring 68, and said dia phragm is adapted to operate a valve 69 for Y controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from a passage 70 connected to the main reservoir pipe 24, to diaphragm chamber 66.

The valve device 8-also includes a piston 71 having the chamber 72 at one side connected through a passage 73 and a passage 74 with diaphragm chamber 66. Rigidly connected to piston 71 is a piston 71 of small- I er area and chamber 7 5 at one side of piston 71 is connected through a passage 37 with pipe 37. 1 i The pistons 71 and 71 have a depending stem 77 to one end of which a lever 78 is pivotally connected. Said lever is pivotally mounted on a pin 79 and the other end of the lever is adapted to engage a stem 80 carried by the diaphragm 50. The outer face of piston 71 is subject to brake pipe pressure as supplied through passage 55. "The' piston 71' is subject to the pressure of'a coil spring 81, which opposes the fluid pressure in chamber 72.

A'pipe 82, connected directly to the application cylinder 17, communicates with a passage 83, which opens into valve chamber 59,

and a passage 84, leading to the seat of slide valve 61, is connected to a pipe 85. The pipe In operation, the usualvparts of the locomotive brake equipment are charged with flu d under pressure in the usual'mannen'the feed valve device 4 operating to maintain the pressure in; thebrakepipe in the usual manner, except that the regulating diaphragm 38 is controlled by fluid under pressure supplied to chamber 91 by operation of the regulating portion associated with the release controlling valve device and including the valve 69 and the diaphragm 67. i

In addition, the chamber 75 of the release controlling valve device 8 is charged with fluid under pressure supplied from the pres sure chamber 15, when the slide valve 12 is in release position, through cavity 92 and pipe 37.

The pressure in chamber 72 is maintained at the standard'pressure carried in the brake pipe by operation of the regulating valve 69 and diaphragm 67, and the same constant pressure is maintained in diaphragm chamber 64.

Brake pipe pressure acts in the chamberbelow the piston 71, and the fluid pressures being normally equalized on opposite sides of the pistons 71 and 71, the spring 81 acts to urge the pistons upwardly and to exert pressure through the lever 78 on the stem 80. The brake pipe pressure in chamber 54 is substantially equal to the pressure in chamber 64, and consequently the pressure of spring 81 acting through lever 78 plus the pressure of spring 93, act to depress the diaphragms 50, 51 and 52 to the position shown in the drawing, in which slide valve 61 uncovers passage 84 to the valve chamber 59.

The application cylinder 17 of the distributing valve device 1 is then connected to the atmosphere by way of pipe 82, passage 83, valve chamber 59, passage 84, p1pe'85, cavity 86 in the independent rotary valve 34, pipe 87 cavity 88 in the automatic rotary valve 26, and exhaust port 89.

In efiecting a service application. of the brakes,'the equalizing piston 9 of the distributing valve device moves to service position, in which the pressure chamber 15 is connected in the usual manner with the application cylinder 17 and the application portion of the distributing valve device .is then operated in the usual manner to supply fluid under pressure to the brake cylinder 6.

In service position of the slide valve 12, pipe 37 is connected through cavity 92 with an exhaust port 94, so that fluid under pressure in chamber"ltiis ventedto the atmosphere. J The constantly maintained pressure in chamber 72 ,then overcomes' the reduced brake pipe pressure acting on the lowerface of piston 71*. and the pressure of spring 81,. so that thetpiston 71 is moved downwardly,

relieving the stem '80 of the pressure acting thereon through lever 78. p

then overcomes the reduced brake pipe pressurein chamber 54 and the pressure of the light spring 93 andl the diaphragms-tO, 51

l so I subject tobrake pipe 7 pressure, the device acts in releasing the brakes the same as if spring 81 is such that when the brake pipe pressure has been increased to Within a pre and 52 are moved upwardly, fqcausing the slide valve '61 to blank the passage 54:.

service application of the brakes. p c In effecting-the release of therbrakes, the;

equalizing piston 9 of the distributing valve device 1, moves to release positlon, 1n w'hlch i the pressure chamber 15 is charged fromthe i "95 around the equalizing pistonf9' and the:

pressure chamber 15 being again connected brake pipe 11,through the usual feed groove to pipe :37, throu h cavityj92, the fluid pressure in chamber 5 is built up.

The lower face of piston 71 being also only the piston 71 were present and subject to the constant fluid pressure in chamber 7 2,

opposed by the brake pipe pressure and the pressure of spring81 and thepressure of determined degree of the normal pressure carried in the brake pipe,v such as to within. a 10 pounds, forexampl'e, the brake pipe pres& sure plus the pressure otspringSl will over come the constant pressure acting in [chaink ber 7:2 and thedevice {will-operate to apply pressure through the lever 7 8. to the stem 80.

When the brake pipe pressure is increased directionras the fluid pressure in valve chamber 59,.acting onjthe larger differentialareaf of the diaphragm 51, as 1 compared with the area'of the diaphragm 5O andjovercomes the constant fluid pressure in chamber 64:, so that a the diaphragms 50, 51 and 52 are shifted downwardly to the position (shown in :the

drawing, in which the slide valvefil' uncovers the passage 84 and permits the vent-r ingot fluid under pressure from the appli-.

cation cylinder 17 to theexhaust hereinbefore described.

WVhen the pressure in'wvalve chamber 59 and the application cylinder17 has been thus port 89, as

reduced to a degree sufiicientfto permitthe constant'pressure'in chamber Gate overcome theopposing pressuresof the brake pipe and The constantfluid pressure in chamber 64 the pressure in chamber 59, the diaphragms 5 0, ol and 521'will be moved upwardly, caus- 1 ingithe slide valve6l to lap the passage 84' a and thuscut off thefurther venting of fluid from the application cylinder;

5 Further increaseslin brake pipe pressure to graduate the release of the brakes on the train cause the releases controlling valve device to operate in the same manner as above described to vent additionalfluid from the application cylinder, so' as to cause the operation of the application and release portion of, the distrlbutrngyalve device to release acorre from the'brake cylinder 6.

'sponding amount otfluid under. pressure When the pressure in the brake pipe been increased to Within a predeterminedldegree of the normal pressure carried in the brakepipe, the piston 71 acts to apply pres surethrough the lever 78 to the stem 80, so

that the diaphragms a are now maintained in release position, permitting the fluid remain a ingin the application cylinder tobe vented to the-atmosphere;

fShouldlfluid under pressureleak into the application cylinder 17,while the parts arein release-position, as bythe creepingof the equalizing slide valve 12 from release position, fluid thusleaking into the application cylinder 17 will be ventedthrough pipe82 to the J l has atmosphere, thus preventing the movement of a a piston 16 tending to apply the brakes, by leak age offluid into the application cylinder,

In order to preventthepossible build upof I pressure in the chamber 64 above the setting of the regulating valve device, as may occur,

due ma leaky regulating valve, a restricted exhaust port 96n1ay beprovided, which con;

nects passage 65 with atmosphere.

IWhile one illustrative embodiment of the Y- invention hasbeendescribed in detail, it is q 7. L a) notmy intention to limit its scope tothat em- Patent, is:

pressure forcontrolling the pressure in said rectly to said aplication cylinder and an auxiliary valve device operated by anincrease inifbrake pipe pressure for releasing bodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. l

-Ha'ving noiv described my invenion,what I v x i (I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters in releasing the brakes, the increased brake pipepressure actsinch'amber 54injthe same:

application cylinder, of a pipe connected di-il V fluid from said application cylinderthrough said pipe.

2. Inla fluid pressure brake, the combina tion with abrake pipe, a brake cylinder, an application and release valve Cl'GVlCB OPBI'ELlJBCl cylinder for controlling the admission and (iii release of fluid under pressure to and from' the brake cylinder, and an equalizing valve device operated by variations in brake pipe pressure for controlling the pressure in said application cylinder, of a pipe connected to said application cylinder and independent of said equalizing valve device and an auxiliary valve device operated by an increase in brake pipe pressure for releasing fluid from said application cylinder through said-pipe;

3. In alocomotive brake apparatus, the

combination With a brake pipe, brake cylinder, a valve device operated by a reduction in pressure in an application cylinder for releasing fluid under pressure from the brake cylinder, a valve device operated by variations in brake pipe pressure for controlling the pressure in said application cylinder, and an automatic brake -alve device, of anauxiliary release valve device for controlling the release of fluid from said application cylinder, the release of fluid being from'the application cylinder by Way of the release valve and thence to an exhaust port by Way of said automatic brake'valve device. I

4. In a locomotive brake apparatus, the combination with a brake pipe, brake cylinder, a valve device operated by a reduction in pressure in application cylinder for releasing fluid under pressure from the brake cylinder,

a valve device operated by variations in brake pipe pressure for controlling the pressure in said application cylinder, and an automatic brake valve device and an independent brake valve device, of an auxiliary release valvejde-- vice for controlling the release of fluid from said application cylinder, the release of fluid being from the application cylinder to said release valve device, thence through said'independent brake valve device, and then.

through said automatic brake valve device to the atmosphere. H

5; In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination With a brake pipe, a brake cylin' der, and a valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a pres sure chamber for controlling the application and release of the brakes, of a release valve device for also controlling the release ofthe brakes and means subject to the opposing pressuresot the pressure chamber and a con stunt pressure for controlling the operation of saidrelease valve device.

6. In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination With a brake pipe and an equalizing valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a pressure chamber for controlling the application and release of the brakes, of a release valve device for also controlling the release of the brakes and means subject in one direction to a constant pressure for assisting in the control of the operation of said release valve device,

said equalizing valve device being adapted in release position to supply fluid under pressure from the pressure chamber to said means to oppose the constant pressure acting thereon. 7.111 a locomotive brake equipment, the combination With a brake pipe and an equalizing valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a pressure chamber for controlling the application and release of the brakes, of a release valve device for also controlling the release'of the brakes and means subject in one direction to a constant pressure for assisting in the control of the operation of said release valve device, said equalizing valve device being adapted in release position to supplyfiuid under pressure from the pressur chamber to one side of said means to oppose the constant pressure acting on the opposite side and adapted in service application position to vent to the atmosphere, that side of said means Which Was subj ected to pressure from the pressure chamber. 8.- In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination with a brake pipe and an equalizing valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and pressure chamber for controlling the'applicatio n and release of the brakes, of means for also controlling the release of the brakes including a differential piston device subject to the opposing pressures of a spring and a constant pressure, said equalizing valve device being adapted in release position to supply fluid under pressure from the pressure chamber to the differential area of said piston device.

9. In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination with a brake pipe and an equalizlng valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a pressure chamber for controlling the application and release of the brakes, of means for also controlling the release of the brakes including a differential piston device subject to the opposing pressures of a spring and a constant pressure, said equalizing valve device being adapted in release position to supply fluid under pressure from the pressure chamber to the differential area of said piston device and to release fluid under pressure from said differential area in'br'ake' application position.

10. In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination With a brake pipe, of a valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the-brake pipefand a chamber for controlling the release of the brakes on the locomotive, a valve for supplying'fluid under pressure'to said chamber, a spring, and a movable abu ment subject to the opposing pressures of said spring and said chamber for operating said valve. 7 i a 11. In a locomotive brake equipment, the combination With a brake pipe, of a valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a chamber for controlling the releaseof the brakes on the locomotive, a

i said chamber, a spring, a movable abutment subject to the opposlng pressures of said spring and said chamber for operating said valve, and a feed valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to the brake pipe, said feed valve device having a regulating diaphragm subject to the opposing pressures ofthe brake pipe and a chamber, which chamber is charged With fluid under pressure by the operation of said valve. g

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,'this 11th day of October, 1929. a

' UNGAS WHITAKER; 

